This is a summary of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships that took place in London, UK from June 11-15, 2025. Here's the essential breakdown:
Winner: The WR Chess team, led by Grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi, won its second consecutive gold medal in both Rapid and Blitz events.
Other notable teams:
- Hexamind Chess Team, featuring Levon Aronian, took bronze in Blitz and silver in the Rapid event.
- KazChess took silver in the Blitz event.
Game of the Day: GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave's "insane win from a dead-lost position" against GM Leinier Dominguez was highlighted as a standout performance in the knockout stage of the Blitz event.
Notable performances:
- 16-year-old IM Aldiya Ansat had an impressive run before ultimately losing to MVL, but securing at least a draw that would give WR Chess the title.
- Aronian's clutch win against Abdusattorov clinched team bronze for Hexamind.
The FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships were filled with exciting matchups, nail-biting finishes, and outstanding performances. The teams will now head to Uzbekistan for the 2025 UzChess Cup, where round one begins on Thursday, June 19.
You can rewatch the highlights of this event by following these links: